Car accidents are often traumatizing, resulting in various injuries and often leaving victims with medical bills, lost income, and a totaled or damaged car. Internal injuries are one of the most dangerous outcomes of a car accident, and the worst part is that they are not always apparent.
It is crucial to seek medical care as soon as possible after an accident. Doing so allows you to identify and treat internal injuries before they become fatal. From there, working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call Hodges Trial Lawyers at 256-826-4129 to learn more.
Different Types of Internal Injuries
Your body suffers an enormous amount of trauma in a car accident. Depending on the type of accident you’re involved in, the speeds involved, and your position in the car, different body parts may be affected. Internal injuries may affect:
- The brain: Traumatic brain injuries are among the most common internal injuries. They are difficult to pinpoint, due to the complexity of the brain. A minor brain injury may cause a temporary headache and leave no lasting effects; a severe brain injury could put a victim in a coma or permanently take away their mobility or ability to communicate. The brain is highly plastic, but much depends on how quickly you begin treatment.
- The chest and abdomen: Your chest and abdomen are built to protect your internal organs from fatal injuries, but they still have their limits. Broken ribs, lung contusions, and other serious injuries can be incredibly painful. These injuries may also lead to organ damage if the impact is great enough.
- Your spinal cord: The spinal cord facilitates all communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Any damage to the spinal cord could result in permanent loss of function. Each part of the spinal cord affects a different part of the body, so a lot depends on where you are injured.
- Internal organs: Organ injuries can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal. Infections, internal bleeding, and organ failure may all result when an organ is damaged.
- Blood flow: Internal bleeding is one of the worst internal injuries you can experience. It is fatal unless immediately treated, and even with prompt treatment, victims can still pass away. Internal bleeding occurs when blood vessels or organs rupture.
Identifying and Seeking Treatment for Internal Injuries
Listening to your body after an accident is a key part of getting the care you need. The adrenaline your body releases to get you through an accident can also mask symptoms like pain and discomfort, making it harder to recognize when you’re seriously injured. However, by looking out for common symptoms caused by internal injuries, you can protect yourself:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Deep bruising
- Fatigue
- Changes in your mental state or mood
- Tingling, numbness, or loss of function
Getting prompt treatment is crucial if you want to make a full recovery. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured after an accident, getting checked out by a doctor is always a wise choice.
The Long-Term Consequences of Internal Injuries
Serious internal injuries can leave you with long-term symptoms or damage. Traumatic brain injuries can cause a permanent loss of function, depending on which part of the brain is affected and how well it recovers. This is very unpredictable—while the brain generally heals more easily at a younger age, only time can tell how a person bounces back.
Some people with internal injuries are left permanently disabled. Damage to the spinal cord could permanently limit your mobility or motor skills, and a severe traumatic brain injury could also leave you disabled. Again, this is why immediate medical attention is so important—the sooner doctors identify what part of the brain is affected, the sooner you can begin treatment and fight for a full recovery.
Unfortunately, many internal injuries can lead to a lower quality of life. Victims may have to reduce their work hours or stop working completely, rely on others for their daily care needs, and stop activities they once enjoyed.
Reach Out to Hodges Trial Lawyers for the Support You Deserve
If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, find out if you are owed compensation. We’re here to help. Send us a message online or call us at 256-826-4129 to set up a consultation now.
